tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401414987111908022.post3265600652374674999..comments2023-06-13T02:38:14.665-04:00Comments on Captive Roots: Misadventures in Making Potting Soil: It's All Fun and Games Until a Plant Loses Its Nitrogen! Captive Rootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01031805075526793871noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401414987111908022.post-36633016830070948012014-07-27T12:56:30.900-04:002014-07-27T12:56:30.900-04:00I used the normal Miracle Gro, but I have also fou...I used the normal Miracle Gro, but I have also found a wide range of quality between different bags of Miracle Gro. For example, this year I used mostly MG and most of it looked great. Then I grabbed one last bag at Lowe's and it was basically a bag of shredded wood chips! The more shredded wood chunks, the more problems your plants will have growing because as the wood chips decay the bacteria that eats them also eats the nitrogen in the soil, robbing the plant. You can just fertilize once a week with a dose of the houseplant fertilizer (the blue powder you mix with water) but it's best not to get into a situation where you are fighting your soil. <br /><br />The plants I grew in my homemade mix last year did about the same as the ones in the MG, so I didn't notice much difference. I think the biggest issue in making the 5:1:1 mix is finding the pine bark fines. I never did find them, so I ended up using some chicken wire from Lowe's as the screen. Honestly, it wasn't worth it in my opinion. You end up with a lot of chunks that have no viable use other than maybe garden paths if you have a yard. <br /><br />I have had amazing results with both outdoor plants and houseplants using potting soil I bought at the store. This year I used Baccto Pro Mix and Miracle Gro, and my plants are doing great. I also fertilize once every 7-10 days. I know some people swear by the 5:1:1 mix, but in my experience the difficulty of finding the main ingredient (pine bark) here in NY and all of the work involved makes it far more difficult than its worth. <br /><br />I'm not sure what turface is? Typically the 5:1:1 stands for 5 parts pine bark fines, 1 part perlite, and 1 part peat moss (sphagnum). Captive Rootshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01031805075526793871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401414987111908022.post-81102199967790285392014-07-26T20:00:50.473-04:002014-07-26T20:00:50.473-04:00I am on a quest right now to find the goodies to m...I am on a quest right now to find the goodies to make the gritty and 5-1-1 mix. I am new to growing things but seem to be killing my houseplants. How did your flowers or whatever you grew turn out from the soil you made versus the miracle grow?? And what kind of miracle grow did you buy that looks like it has bark in it?? I have bought the water controlled, regular, potting soil and all of them were denser type soil. I am curious in a pinch if that would be an okay soil to use for house plants. <br />I have had sooo much trouble finding the right things to make the soil. I could not find pine bark, so i bought bags of reptile bedding of fir, and still have to find the turface...i had no clue as to what it was or where to start looking, and finally found a picture of a bag of stuff from napa that can be used if someone cant find turface. I have been to lowes, menards, a garden center, a nursey and a feed store and they all look at me like im crazy..lol i very well might be!! But i am hoping to be a crazy girl with nice looking houseplants in the near future!! Lol. Also, what did you use to screen everything in the mix you made?? The screen and turface are my only two things needed i think....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05942034486668501442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401414987111908022.post-29378178359176040562013-05-03T17:43:48.577-04:002013-05-03T17:43:48.577-04:00Anna,
Thank you for reading! Believe me, the amou...Anna,<br /><br />Thank you for reading! Believe me, the amount of work that went into getting something that is essentially Miracle Grow isn't worth it! It was quite a learning experience though!<br /><br />Captive Rootshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01031805075526793871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401414987111908022.post-776955186821022532013-05-03T16:34:01.830-04:002013-05-03T16:34:01.830-04:00I've never made soil before, so this was a fun...I've never made soil before, so this was a fun read.<br />I have to agree, from the pictures, your finished product looks a lot like the Miracle Gro.<br /><br />Since it seems to be working just fine, you should formulate it!<br /><br />Anna.Annanoreply@blogger.com